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A guide to iPod® and car stereo compatibility

How to get the level of iPod control that's right for you

Robert Ferency-Viars is the managing editor for the Crutchfield car A/V learning content, and has been with the company since 1999. A Virginia native from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, he loves spending time with his wonderful wife and sons, listening to music, writing, and playing games with friends. Robert's love for car audio began at 16 when he installed his first car stereo.

Whether you're shopping for a new stereo and want to make sure that you'll get the best experience when using your iPod or iPhone in the car, or if you just want to add iPod controls to a stereo you already have, this article will help. Adding iPod or iPhone control to almost any vehicle's stereo can be made simple by using vehicle- or stereo-specific adapters.

Many new aftermarket stereos have iPod and iPhone controls built in, so you don't need anything more than the iPod cable for basic audio control. On the other hand, some stereos require an adapter in order to access the more advanced features of your device. And many vehicles require an adapter in order to connect your iPod at all.

Benefits of using an iPod adapter in the car

Music controls — Use the stereo's controls to play, pause, stop, forward, and rewind the music.

Song search and access to playlists — You can search for songs on your iPod from the stereo. You'll have access to your playlists, but some adapters, especially those for factory stereos, limit the number of playlists you can get to.

Power— The iPod is powered by the adapter and the battery charges while connected.

Locked iPod — In most cases, the iPod's controls are locked out — you have to use your stereo's controls, so you can tuck the iPod safely away in your console or glovebox. And of course, some stereos give you the option of switching to the iPod's controls. This is often referred to as "Passenger Mode."

App control — Many newer stereos let you access specialized apps on your iPod from the stereo. The most basic of these is Pandora controls that let you access your Pandora account (select your channels, rate songs, skip tracks, etc.). But other stereos have far more advanced app controls, especially if the stereo has a video screen.

Type of adapter: Will the regular iPod cable do the job?

The kind of cable or adapter you need depends on the capabilities of the stereo you have in the dash.

USB connection — Stereos that have built-in iPod controls and USB inputs usually only need the standard iPod cable for basic audio control. This is the most common situation since USB inputs are found on most new aftermarket stereos and also in most new vehicles. In many cases, you can use the cable that came with your iPod to connect and control it from the stereo. It's a good idea to purchase an extra iPod cable to leave in the car.

A USB port represents the most common connection for an iPod or iPhone.

iPod adapter cables — Some stereos, especially those with video screens, require a special adapter cable in order to get full iPod integration. You might be able to get basic control of the iPod with the regular iPod cable, but in order to see song titles and menus on the stereo's display, or to access music apps like Pandora or satellite radio, you need the special adapter cable.

This iPhone connection package includes three separate pieces to get new iPhones integrated to HDMI-equipped receivers.

External control boxes — Occasionally, the iPod controls are housed in an outboard box that connects to the stereo and iPod. This is the most common option for adding iPod control to a factory stereo. When this option is available, the adapter box connects to the rear of the stereo, and adds a USB connection specifically for your iPod.

Functionality: How easy is it to control your iPod from the stereo?

Now let's discuss the stereo itself. Some receivers work better with iPods than others, and it's not that hard to figure out which ones. Functionality refers to how easy it is to manipulate the iPod's functions from your car stereo.

The stereo's display

Consider a basic display with a single line of text, limited to 8 or 10 characters visible at a time. Song text might scroll across the display. You probably have to switch view settings to see artist name, song title, and playlist, or there might be only numeric designations for playlists. Factory stereos and budget-priced aftermarket receivers usually fall into this category.

Compare that display to one with two or three lines of text that can show you all of the song information at once. Searching for songs and folders is going to be much easier on a display that shows this much detail.

The stereo's controls

Just as the display is important for being able to see what you're doing, having radio controls that are suited for searching and accessing a song library affects iPod control too. Basic stereo controls can mean extra button pushing to make you're way through the song menu to get to the artist and album you want to hear. Stereos with more advanced controls will make it much easier to find the song you want.

The large touchscreen display on the Pioneer AVH-AVH-4100NEX DVD receiver provides a user-friendly interface to find music on your iPod. Receivers like this are designed with iPod compatibility in mind.

iPod compatibility and shopping for a new stereo

To help find stereos with the right level of iPod control, we added an iPod compatibility filter to the car stereo section of our web site. On the left nav bar, you'll see the following section:

App Compatible: These stereos give you access to one or more apps on your iPod or iPhone. On more advanced receivers, like Pioneer's AppRadio, you might get access to many apps that have been tailored to the stereo.

Audio Playback: This option refers standard audio controls. You can use the stereo to access the audio content stored on your iPod or iPhone. You usually don't need to buy any optional adapters and they tend to give you the best level of control.

iPhone 5, 6, and 6+ Compatible: These stereos are specifically compatible with the iPhone 5, 6, and 6+, which feature a "Lightning" connection in lieu of the traditional 30-pin connection. Certain app and video functions that are readily accessible from older iPhones may not be available through the newer iPhones, or they may require special cables or connections.

Pandora: This is a subset of the stereos in the above iPhone categories that specifically have the ability to control Pandora Internet radio through your iPhone.

Siri Control: Some stereos let you access Siri through the stereo's Bluetooth® connection. It uses the stereo's microphone to let Siri hear you, and Siri's responses are played over the car's speakers.

Video Playback: This option means that the stereo can play video content from your iPod or iPhone. This includes streaming video content, such as YouTube and Netflix. Keep in mind that viewing videos on your car stereo's screen requires that the vehicle be stopped and the parking brake be engaged. This feature usually requires that you purchase a special adapter cable (you can use the standard iPod cable for basic audio controls, just like the "Audio Playback" category above).

Here to help

If you have any questions about how to add iPhone or iPod control to your current stereo, or want help shopping for a new stereo, send us an email, chat with us online, or give us a call. Our Crutchfield advisors are always ready to help.

Comments

My old iPhone 5s used to display playlist on the screen of my Toyota RAV4 (2014); my new iPhone 6 does not show playlist on the cars screen, do you know anything about this?

Posted on 4/26/2015 11:57:04 AM

Dave Delamere from Crutchfield

Annie, while we know lots about the radios we sell, we generally don't have any information on how factory radios behave with smartphones. Your best bet is to check directly with Toyota about the compatibility of your iPhone 6.

Posted on 4/27/2015 9:24:10 AM

Terry from United States

Hello, own a car that has a Alpine CDA-9856 installed. I am considering installing a new receiver. I do not wish to modify any existing wiring. Are my existing connections "universal" or are the connectors of replacement units brand specific? And if they are brand specific, are the current Alpine units compatible?

Posted on 5/29/2015 12:30:29 AM

Dave Delamere from Crutchfield

Terry, receiver wiring harnesses are specific to the receiver manufacturer. Even then, they can sometimes change their wiring configuration over the years. But in researching your Alpine's wiring configuration, it appears that several current Alpine receivers we carry offer the same configuration. You may want to contact one of our Advisors to confirm your Alpine receiver choice.

Posted on 5/29/2015 11:32:48 AM

Kenny

Will any brand of ipod direct cable fit a pyle radio?

Posted on 6/12/2015 8:46:50 PM

Robert Ferency-Viars from Crutchfield

Kenny, we don't carry Pyle, so I don't know what will or won't work with them. But of the brands we carry, the iPod cables are all brand-specific, so Pyle is probably the same. That said, I've never actually tried a different brand iPod adapter with a stereo, so...who knows?

Posted on 6/16/2015 4:52:18 PM

Dave from Annapolis

I have been using my IPOD NANO in my 2014 Jeep Grande Cherokee. Suddenly it stopped playing music but the screen in the Jeep shows the songs and cover as I change channels. I have tried the Nano in other vehicles with the same result...no music but screen in vehicle shows that music is playing. Any ideas on what is wrong and how to fix it? Thanks

Posted on 7/14/2015 5:36:22 PM

Alexander Hrabe from Crutchfield

Dave, by trying the iPod with multiple stereos, it would appear that you've isolated the problem to the iPod itself, or the cable(s) you're using. With any luck, it's just the cable(s). Try swapping the cable(s) out for another one, and if you still get the same results, give Apple a call. They may be familiar with the issue.

Posted on 7/15/2015 8:59:01 AM

helene from hollywood, fl

Are the old cd to usb adapters still available? I want to connect an old ipod Touch to my auto stereo system through the cd player. There is no USB port in my audio system. The car is 11 years old. Minimal expense is desired

Posted on 7/28/2015 2:33:19 PM

Alexander Hrabe from Crutchfield

Helene, we do have a number of adapters that integrate older model iPods for use with select factory radios. Be sure to enter your vehicle information when prompted. However, if your factory radio has an AUX input, that would be the easiest, cheapest way to go. Simply plug your iPod into the AUX input using a mini-to-mini stereo cable.

Posted on 7/28/2015 2:48:51 PM

Jacque B from Loveland, CO

We just purchased a camper trailer that has a BOSS receiver in it but when I plug in the USB CORD hooked to my iPhone 6+ and try to play music via The "Beat" mp3 app or anything in the music section of my iPhone it says USBER but I have no indication in anything of what that means or how to fix it. Help!!!

Posted on 7/28/2015 11:30:03 PM

Alexander Hrabe from Crutchfield

Jacque, your best bet is to contact BOSS directly. Also, take a look at their support page. You may be able to find a downloadable manual for that particular receiver that could tell you what that code means.

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